Alignment FAQ's

Q: What is wheel alignment

Wheel alignment refers to an adjustment of your car’s suspension — the system that connects your vehicle to its wheels. The key to proper wheel alignment is adjusting the angles of the tires which affects how they make contact with the road.

Q: Why is it important for vehicle to be aligned

Wheel alignment plays a critical role in the performance of your vehicle. Properly aligned vehicles increase the life of your tire, saving you money. Wheel alignment also increases your safety and comfort as a driver and as a passenger.

Q: What causes vehicle to be out of alignment

Numerous things can cause your vehicle to become misaligned. A few of the common ways your tires can become misaligned include:

Hitting curbs/potholes

Zooming over speed bumps

Worn suspension or steering components

Getting into an accident

Not properly maintaining your car

Hitting curb / pothole / etc

Worn suspension or steering components

Q: How do I know if my vehicle is out of alignment

The wheel alignment of your car can be off for a number of reasons, including hitting a pothole or curb. Improper wheel alignment can result in issues with how your vehicle handles—which could create a safety hazard—and can also negatively impact tire tread and gas mileage. This is why it is extremely important to have you vehicle checked once a year as routine maintenance. A few warning signs to look out for include:

Abnormal tire wear

Vehicles pulls to one side

Steering wheel is not straight

Check it once a year as routine maintenance

If vehicle pulls to one side

If steering wheel isn’t straight

If tires are wearing unevenly

Q: What is involved in aligning vehicle

A vehicle alignment is actually an elaborate process that brings your car’s suspension into its proper configuration, positioning and adjusting components so that the wheels are aligned with one another and the road surface. Essentially, an alignment requires inspection of steering and suspension parts for wear, and replacing those worn or damaged parts. We then mount sensors onto the wheels and compare current readings to specs for that specific vehicle. The “perfect” alignment spec is different for all vehicles. Adjustments are then made so that vehicle is aligned to the spec.

Our technicians will then straighten/center your steel wheel. Lastly, we will test drive the vehicle to ensure proper experience.

Inspection of steering and suspension parts for wear

Replacing any worn or damaged parts

Mounting sensors to wheels

Compare current readings to specs for that specific vehicle

All vehicles have a different “perfect” alignment spec

Make adjustments so vehicle is aligned to spec

Straighten / center steering wheel

Test drive to ensure proper experience

Q: What kinds of adjustments can be made?

Toe adjustments

Toe-in or toe-out: the amount by which your wheels are closer or further apart at their front edge than at their rear edges — is adjustable on all vehicles. Incorrect adjustment, or through driving hard on to a curb, can cause the setting to go wrong.

Camber and caster adjustments

The camber is the angle at which a wheel leans in our out. While it is not normally adjustable, if you find that it is different on two sides of the vehicle, something is wrong with the tires, wheels or suspension.Because the sidewall of a modern radial-ply tire always bulges outwards slightly in the area where the tire contacts the ground, camber can be checked only approximately. Our technicians can install cam eccentrics, as well as install ball joint sleeves when necessary.

Install cam eccentrics when necessary

Install ball joint sleeve when necessary

Confirm steer ahead and thrust angleThe thrust angle is an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the rear axle’s centerline. This angle compares the direction that the rear axle is aimed with the centerline of your vehicle. It also confirms if the rear axle is parallel to its front axle and the wheelbase on both sides of the vehicle is the same. It is one of the most critical diagnostic angles during a wheel alignment.